Homeless in RI: PIT Count – Saal’s back – CCA evicted – new shelter – “underpass is his home”

The PIT Count

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development – HUD – Continuums of Care (CoCs) are required to conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness at least every other year in the United States. Designed to be taken, simultaneously, over one 24-hour period, it now has extended to a few days, most likely due to winter weather as the count is done in January.

This year the Rhode Island PIT count took place over a few days, ending on February 4th. The data will be submitted to the federal government with a report to come out many months later, usually in December, making the data already a year old.

Last year’s data was compiled into a report – some highlights:

• On a single night in 2022, roughly 582,500 people were experiencing homelessness in the United
  States. Six in ten (60%) were staying in sheltered locations—emergency shelters, safe havens, or
  transitional housing programs—and four in ten (40%) were in unsheltered locations such as on the street, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not suitable for human habitation.
• Nationwide, between 2020 and 2022, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness increased by less than one percent.
• The number of veterans experiencing homelessness declined by 11 percent between 2020 and 2022. In 2022, 40,238 fewer veterans were experiencing homelessness than in 2009, when these data were first reported, a drop of nearly 55 percent.
• On a single night in 2022, more than 30,000 people under the age of 25 experienced homelessness on their own as “unaccompanied youth.”

About Rhode Island in this report:

• The largest absolute increase was in California, followed by Oregon and Tennessee. The states with the largest percentage increases were Vermont (161%), Maine (91%), and Rhode Island (48%)

• 506 Rhode Island families were experiencing homelessness.
• In 12 states, the number of individuals experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness has more
  than doubled between 2007 and 2022, with the largest increases in Maine (416% more individuals
  with chronic patterns of homelessness), Montana (313%), Nevada (216%), Rhode Island (214%), and Kansas (193%).

Read the full report, here:

What can we expect from the 2023 PIT count in Rhode Island?

What can we expect with homelessness numbers obviously so much increased in 2022/2023 than ever before? We can look at the data from the last few years to best judge what we may expect.

Looking at last year alone – 2022 – with the survey done in January of 2022, there were 1,577 adults counted as homeless and 317 children (under 18) counted as homeless. The 2022 PIT count was an increase of 24.5% over 2021.

The RI Coalition to End Homelessness two days ago said there were 276 people homeless in Rhode Island and that there were no beds available for them.

Stefan Pryor, the new housing czar, replacing Josh Saal, says there are beds for everyone wanting them and referenced the Cranston Street Armory.

PIT Count for Rhode Island from 2009 to 2022:

Sample questionnaire – each year the questions asked are tweaked – this is an average sample questionnaire (download at link below form).

To encourage people to respond to the volunteers’ questions the Coalition offers $25 gift cards and raises private donations to support that effort.

Demographics of homeless in Rhode Island from 2022 Point-in-Time count:

This is a more detailed look at the Rhode Island data and demographic breakdown –

The count of “unsheltered” homeless – those not in emergency shelters or transitional housing in January, 2022’s PIT count was 247. The Coalition’s estimate that 276 are right now unsheltered seems to be in line with an increase though not as substantial as would have been thought. It is noteworthy that the weather – both rain and cold – was exceptional during the time of the count and some people may have been able to access indoor sleeping arrangements with friends for that night or two.

Emergency shelters are set to close in April. But homelessness will not end in April, or with the coming of spring, summer and fall. Pryor has said he needs to start planning for next winter – now – but planning for what will happen when the shelters close and the tents begin to pop up again is critical.

If the numbers hold or dramatically increase, it could mean the placement needs would include the emergency housed and unhoused, or, for 2022 approximately 1,400 with 177 in need of moving from transitional housing to permanent housing, That number, if increased by the same percentage would be 1,568 and 199, respectively.

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McKee Administration Officially Opens New Emergency Shelter in Providence

Crossroads Rhode Island to administer shelter and supportive services at 40-bed shelter facility located on Hartford Avenue in Providence

In a continuing effort to address chronic street homelessness in Rhode Island, the McKee Administration today announced the official opening of a new shelter facility in Providence. The facility on Hartford Avenue began receiving couples seeking shelter on Saturday as a result of the dangerous cold snap that hit our region. City of Pawtucket: “No update from the city today. “

The new shelter will operate 40 beds at a state-owned property on Hartford Avenue in Providence. Crossroads Rhode Island was selected to manage day-to-day operations at the site and will be responsible for administering shelter and supportive services to unhoused Rhode Islanders in need. Working within the state’s Coordinated Entry System, Crossroads plans to operate the Hartford Avenue site as a dedicated Emergency Couples’ Shelter. While priority will be given to couples, individuals may be eligible for shelter and services based on the availability of beds on any given night.

“Outfitting this previously vacant state-owned property as a shelter is one of many steps our Administration is taking to provide additional, immediate resources in a time of clear need,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We thank the team at Crossroads Rhode Island for their hard work in operationalizing this site on a short timeframe, and we remain committed to working alongside our nonprofit partners and municipal leaders to continue connecting unhoused Rhode Islanders with shelter and services that connect them to permanent housing.”

“This emergency shelter will help keep couples together in the immediate term, while also enabling these couples to pursue a path toward longer-term affordable housing,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor. “We’re glad that this facility was available over the weekend — even before its official opening – given the extreme cold and wind that Rhode Island experienced. It is important that we continue to provide new shelter beds to Rhode Islanders who are unhoused – even as we invest in permanent housing opportunities at every income level. Thank you to the terrific team at Crossroads and the alliance of State agencies – including the Departments of Administration and Housing – who brought this facility to life. And thank you to the remarkably nimble team at Amos House who operated this center this weekend.”

“The housing crisis in Rhode Island is the most urgent issue facing the state and it requires an all-hands approach to address. The Hartford Avenue Shelter will provide couples and adults experiencing homelessness with a safe, warm, and predictable place to stay during the winter. As importantly, it will provide an opportunity for our housing problem-solvers to work with our shelter guests to find a permanent apartment,” said Crossroads Rhode Island CEO Karen Santilli. “We appreciate the partnership with Governor McKee and newly appointed Housing Secretary Pryor which has allowed for a creative use of an underutilized state property to provide emergency shelter to confront the immediate homeless crisis. As we work together to keep people safe this winter, I am hopeful that we will also remain committed as a state to building additional housing for people experiencing homelessness so we can avoid the need for these kinds of emergency shelters in the future.”

The Hartford Avenue shelter is funded through FY23 SFRF Homeless Assistance resources. Its opening comes as the Administration continues to make immediate investments in Rhode Island’s housing landscape, including addressing the issues of housing insecurity and homelessness in Rhode Island through a medical respite care pilot program and standing up low-barrier solutions like the 24/7 Warming Station at the Cranston Street Armory; supporting prospective homeowners with a $30 million first-time homebuyers assistance program; and releasing $166 million in funding to support affordable housing development in Rhode Island.

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UPDATE on the Pawtucket Underpass

Living under the overpass are one or more people who are resistant to moving. Involved in this crisis is the City of Pawtucket, the RI Department of Transportation, various homeless service agencies, and local and state police departments. In an interview, Pryor said this is a particularly difficult situation because the person living there has all their worldly possessions under the bridge – and for that person “this is their home”. “Director Alviti is in touch with Secretary Stefan Pryor at the State Department of Housing on this issue. Once outreach has been completed and individuals on the site have been relocated to a safer place, RIDOT will go to the Pawtucket bridge and clean up the site. City of Pawtucket: “No update from the city today. “

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Josh Saal is back

With the resignation of the housing czar, Josh Saal, in came past CommerceRI director, Stefan Pryor. Many eyes are on this no nonsense leader to not only address the problem, but to manage millions of dollars he has been given authority over to address the problem and affordable housing in general. However, yesterday we learned that part of the plan will be to keep Saal on for a MINIMUM of 20 hours per week at over $100 an hour for 3 months with health insurance. He will help in the transition. Initially Pryor intends to hire 25 more people.

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CCA – Woonsocket:

Ben Lessing, CEO of the Community Care Alliance responds promptly, as always, to our request for information on the status of the mobile van treatment unit and the upcoming auction of their own building by the state of Rhode Island’s BHDDH.

“I am writing on behalf of Community Care Alliance and CODAC regarding the Mobile Treatment Unit which has been providing Opioid Treatment Services in Woonsocket.

As you know, Community Care Alliance and CODAC have been collaborating to increase the capacity and access of Opioid Treatment Services in Woonsocket, particularly for vulnerable populations. Over the past few weeks, we have actively reached out to the Woonsocket City Council to communicate our concerns regarding the recent cease and desist order from the City of Woonsocket. Through multiple conversations and at City Council meetings, we have provided additional information, education and data to underscore Opioid use in the city, overdoses and the need for additional services as provided by CODAC’s mobile unit. At present, CODAC is serving 48 individuals with an evolving caseload. We believe there is widespread agreement among City Councilors and other residents as to the lifesaving importance of the mobile unit which has been an important resource for unhoused Woonsocket residents, many of whom struggle with access to services. As such, we are optimistic that the mobile unit will remain in the city; that said, our respective legal counsels and the City Solicitor are continuing to confer in an effort determine the specifics as to how this will occur.”

Benedict F. Lessing, Jr. MSW, President/CEO, Community Care Alliance

Lessing on CCA’s Eviction:

“The impending eviction process relative to Community Care Alliance’s site at 181 Cumberland St. marks the end of multiple years of advocacy whose objective was to have the State of RI live up to its obligation to maintain a building whose purpose was to serve some of Woonsocket and Northern RI’s most vulnerable citizens with serious mental illness. In 1981, the public-private partnership that established this site was not only hopeful but resulted in effectively serving thousands of people and saving Rhode Island millions of dollars. There was a time when State officials understood not only the humanitarian but also the economic impact of the delivery of effective community based services. This is a different time and that partnership, vision and understanding has eroded. A review of what has occurred speaks volumes about doing business with the State and ultimately the commitment to our most vulnerable populations and communities.”

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More Tents coming

As the weather becomes more mild, after record making cold, tent villages have started to pop up again – some next to the Marriott in Providence – some behind Chapel View in Cranston and Cranston Police station, visible from Route 37, by the Thurbers Avenue curve, Walmart parking lot in Smithfield, old Benny’s site in Pawtucket,

Mayor Hopkins: Across the street from Chapel View, he knows there are tents there on state property – near the entrance to Route 37 – Cranston police can’t do anything about it. They cleared out the one on the entrance to Route 10. One more on Paolino Properties under the Route 10 overpass – Hopkins calls it a “tent city”.

In December the Coalition to End Homelessness was raising funds, some of which relegated to paying for tents and sleeping bags, while the agency is working to bring people out of unhoused sleeping in tents and sleeping bags.

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Tuesday the Washington Post carried a story on the homeless situation exploding in select states – Rhode Island of which is one. They showed a photo of the inside of the Cranston Armory, even though no local media have been allowed to get into the armory for a photo opp. Here is a link to a readable story from the Washington Post noting 3 states with the top problems in homelessness – Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island – click HERE